Small businesses have a huge amount of power at their fingertips if they are willing to learn how to use it. Social media engagement can drive sales numbers into the sky, and act as free advertising without financial investment or a sales push. Grow your local business by using social media to engage with your local community online.
Community Outreach
When people think of social media they think of the entire world being connected, and global audiences. The truth is that all social media apps use location data when promoting and suggesting accounts to users. This allows locally focused businesses and smaller retailers to use modern marketing methods to reach the community they are in.
Not only can social media be a powerful marketing tool, but it can also be empowering for small businesses and save money. You can be in charge of your advertisement, branding, and corporate message. You can use local events and trends to reach new customers on your doorstep. They may not be aware that you are just around the corner. Utilise social media correctly and you can become the talk of the town, online and off.
Creating An Online Buzz
You do not have to use social media for prompting products and sales. In fact, it can be more effective if you rarely advertise an offer. Social media is perfect for giving your brand a voice, and an identity. When you start engaging with a community on its terms, purchases are driven organically. People visit your site or shop because they identify with you and your brand. They want to spend money with you, it is their idea.
Join local groups and engage on local pages as a business and brand, but do not promote. Instead, create a persona that reflects what your business wants to be and your values. Cheeky content, humorous takes on local issues, and joining in with community events online and off, can all be used to give your business a presence that people can become friends with. Followers and friends become customers and clients.
Adding Value With Content
The content we consume online, from blog posts to memes and everything in between, is a valuable experience. Whether it provides humour or provokes a deeper emotion, we keep going back for more from the same accounts and hashtags. By adding content to your profile, you are adding value to the customer experience. Like bait on a fishhook, content lets you reel people in and land a sale.
With just a few simple tools, like video editing software and a meme generator, you can make posts that offer information or a dose of laughter free of charge. Posts are shared amongst the local community if the content is locally focused. Shares become new followers, and existing followers convert to customers. Just a little bit of content can go a long way, and all you need to invest is some time.
Nearly everyone in your town or village, or city, is on one or more social media sites. No matter what product or service you offer, you can use these apps and websites to grow and engage with the local community. Create your social media presence today and reap the rewards tomorrow.
